Many people believe that their dog's mouth is so clean that they will let them lick them all over. There really is no need for a scientific comparison, just take some time to observe a dog. Are you familiar with what your dog does with it's mouth? Well, many dogs like to smell and lick things that interests them, especially with things outside the house. They go through trash, socialize with other dogs, and their private parts. From all the activities listed, dogs pick up millions of germs, and you definitely don't want all that over your face!
This theory came about because we see dogs lick their wounds. Therefore, some people assume that dog saliva is clean and possibly holds healing properties. This is very untrue. We share as much bacteria in our mouths as dogs. The only difference is that dogs have different germs. Some of these germs are only found in dogs and can't be passed to humans, other germs can spread from dog to human. Dogs lick their wounds because they have a rough tongue that cleans away dirt in the wound thus, making it heal faster.
My advice to dog owners is to keep your dog away from your face, but cuddle up and give him losts of love. Just don't do it mouth to mouth.
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This post crack me up. I think it is absolutely appalling when people do things like let their dogs lick their faces, or eat out of their bowls, or off of their ice cream cones. As much as I could ever love an animal, I don't even let my boyfriend lick my face (although, I doubt he would try), so why would I let some animal who has no idea of what is appropriate or clean in our society? My best friend's dog eats animal waste, so when it comes to showing me love, I'll stick to just a tail wag, please.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post. I have heard that myth from so many people and like others, also believed it; yet in the back of my mind I did not understand how it could possibly be true. This makes sense that it's not and it is also good to know because even though I love my dog, I have always felt funny about having her lick my face just because her mouth was supposedly cleaner than humans.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely insane the things that people will believe. I used to work at an animal hospital and heard at least once a day from clients that "dogs have cleaner mouths than humans." WHAT?! Unless there is some magical subtance in a dog's mouth that kills off all the germs from the horrific things they eat, I would never believe the claim. Not to mention that most dogs have bad breath, which is an obvious sign that something is not so clean in there.
ReplyDeleteI've always heard this myth and never understood why so many people believed it. Dogs eat the nastiest things ever, even a cat's mouth seems cleaner than a dog's. I mean, my dog catches me by surprise every now and then and licks my face, but I try to avoid it as much as I can.
ReplyDeleteI find it sooo gross when people let their dogs lick their face. I don't know why people would actually believe their mouths are cleaner than humans, considering dogs lick their own private areas!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I would never let me dog lick my face, I did actually believe this to be true. I do find it disgusting when my brother lets our dog lick his face especially after I witness my dog do half the things he does with his tounge, GROSS!
ReplyDeleteFinally! I need to show this post to almost everyone I know. My friends used to quote this like it was law, and I would argue with them to no end how it never made any sense. I never knew where this idea came from, and I think it is pretty interesting, but also a little sad that people just believed it to be true without confirming it first.
ReplyDeleteI always heard the strangest myths when it comes to animals and dogs are up there. I could not tell you the things i saw my dog and other dogs eat. They are anywhere from the cleanest.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a funny post, because I know people that let their dog lick them and they justify it with o well dogs have really clean mouths. I just always find it gross to let a dog lick you and now I know that it is!
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